This fabulous gallery in the heart of Jacksonville Beach, is a treat to visit, especially when they have exhibits opening, as they did last night. The gallery's website is here: http://www.jjohnsongallery.com/index.html The opening last night was for this exhibit: Small Spaces http://www.jjohnsongallery.com/current.html The people watching, as always, was fabulous, with the wide array of different people there from the glitterati of Jacksonville, to the beach surf culture crowd.  All mingling together with some beverages and looking at (in this case) tiny little paintings. We are fortunate to have such a terrific gallery here in Jacksonville Beach, and if you get a chance to visit, you will enjoy it!     11/13/2010

Here are the October 2010 stats and 2009 for comparison - 2010 14 Homes Sold Lowest price: $69,900 Highest price: $480,000            Shortest Days on Market: 0 Longest Days on Market: 140 2009 23 homes sold Lowest price: $124,900 Highest price: $1,515,000 Shortest Days on Market: 4 Longest Days on Market: 534 Sales are down year over year, 39% to be exact, and I think that is the first time I've posted that this year and I really don't like it! So, where are the bright spots in this monthly report?  One, the days on market are down which is fabulous, plus new listings on market (from another source, and not included in this data) are down 23%, so we are getting the real motivated sellers in the market, and the not-so-motivated sellers out of the market which will help improve the movem... 11/09/2010

This is an annual event I went to for the first time yesterday, and it will not be the late. 26 years ago this event started at the Conch House on the Intracoastal, as a fundraiser for the Shriner's Club. Purchase tickets (one for chowder, 6 for beers), and off you go to wander from restaurant booth to restaurant booth, all armed with the Minorchan Conch Chowder and variations on chowder: lobster and roaster red pepper, New England clam chowder with applewood smoked bacon, or scallop and roasted corn chowder (a few of my personal favorites!) The weather was PERFECT yesterday with a cool breeze present even when the sun was out, there were tons of kids and dogs, and a booth for a wild cat rescue organization that had a baby bobcat, and a baby florida panther.   Bobcat kitten......   Flor... 11/07/2010

Let me first begin by stating I'm not endorsing this race, I have never participated in an endurance adventure race (and probably never will having had 3 ACL's reconstructed. Yes, we all have two. I had one reconstructed TWICE). However, I have been a long time fan of Outside Magazine, and their journalism, and I read this while working off the celebratory champagne and nacho repaste an REO buyer and I shared yesterday after closing. It is truly an amazing look into how some people are SO competitive, they will push through pain, (mental, emotional, physical) to continue moving forward. Kind of makes our day to day life seem, well, not so rough, right? http://outsideonline.com/adventure/travel-ta-201011-death-race-mark-jenkins-sidwcmdev_152043.html?imw=Y   11/06/2010

I have passed this store for months as I drive up 3rd Street (also know as A1A), and now I know what is inside! In The Pink is a boutique for women living with cancer - and offers so much it is amazing!  This is a non-profit boutique and salon dedicated to helping women heal, cope and survive the effects of cancer, physically and emotionally. At In The Pink, a woman living with cancer can benefit from: Salon services Monthly Laughology classes Weekly Yoga classes Breast Prosthetic settings Post-Mastectomy bras, swimwear & lingerie Weightless breast forms for post-surgery & leisure wear Wig selection & fitting Scarves, hats & turbans Skin care products developed for radiation and chemotherapy patients Educational & insprirational books Cancer resource center with computer access Lymphede... 10/30/2010

I love courtyard, and have had on here in Jacksonville, FL in a house I owned in Neptune Beach. Having had that experience, I was thrilled to read about http://www.woollypocket.com/ Woolypockerts are made of natural, recycled materials, and help gardeners all over the place create living walls and and vertical gardens! They come in all shapes, sizes, configurations, and are made here in the USA. Check out their website, and see if you or somone you know can use them!   10/27/2010

I have an addiction: I am mesmerized by horror movies.  I normally Tivo a bunch of them in October, and watch one per night by candlelight. Yes, I officially have issues, apparently.  You mean you don't do the same thing?????  I'm really not sure how this obsession began, but I loved Godzilla movies when I was younger, and would watch horrible Grade B horror flicks on WPIX where I grew up in NJ, or the Chiller Thriller when I got home. So, you can see, it's a lifetime of horror fascination. Once you become an aficionado of horror flicks, you start to notice certain plot lines/themes that are always present.This is what lead to this post. I'm going to present selected horror movie factoids and relate them to Real Estate There is almost always a car accident or car trouble that precipitat... 10/18/2010

Seascape Condominiums - Jacksonville Beach, FL     Seascape Condominiums are located on Jacksonville Beach, Florida. The community offers condo units ranging from 1,100-1,300 square feet. Seascape's amenities include three oceanfront pools, an exercise room with sauna, a car wash area, and an underground garage for parking. Seascape is located several blocks south of the main Jacksonville Beach area. This convenient location gives its residents access to the conveniences of Jax Beach yet also a little more quietness. There are also many other Jacksonville Beach condos for sale in similar communities in the Jacksonville Beach area.  Seascape Condominiums for sale in Jacksonville Beach, FL   10/13/2010

I have trouble posting with zero words, sorry gang. Another in my series of sunrise shots from Jacksonville Beach, FL.  I tend to leave my camera in my car so I can do direct from the gym (most mornings) to the beach to take sunrise shots. If you are looking at the time stamp on my post this AM, you are correct: these are not from today, as I took the morning off from the gym (have an 8am meeting). Happy Wednesday!   10/12/2010

Here are the September 2010 stats and 2009 for comparison - 2010 19 Homes Sold Lowest price: $92,500 Highest price: $975,000 Shortest Days on Market: 7 Longest Days on Market: 731   2009 17 homes sold Lowest price: $136,000 Highest price: $3,200,000 Shortest Days on Market: 0 Longest Days on Market: 704 Sales are up a bit year over year, 11% to be exact. Neptune Beach was up 33%, and Atlantic Beach was flat in year over year comparisons. The longest days on market (an indicator of properly presented & priced listings) in 2009 was a short sale, and was priced at $300,000. Short sales do take longer to close, and require patience on both sides of the transaction. Properly priced and properly presented properties are STILL selling – currently, the Jacksonville area has about 10 months of i... 10/10/2010

I am, in my own words, a non-traditional quirky owner of several cats. To paraphrase, a crazy cat lady. Now, I do not consider myself truly to be crazy in any way. I like my cats because they are more independent than dogs, and hence, allow me greater flexibility in my personal and professional life. The number of cats, 3, has no real significance; it just worked out that way. I have no desire to add to what I call "The Herd", as adding cats (or even one cat) upsets the balance of "The Herd". There are two boys (Yoda & Charlie) and one girl (Gizmo).   All are rescues, all are indoor/outdoor. And it is that facet, "indoor/outdoor" that leads to today's blog. I have come to enjoy the presence of the cats, particularly on a cold winter night (and, yes, we do get cold winter nights her in N... 10/03/2010

A beautiful sunrise again this morning with major clouds to striate the suns rays. We are supposed to have a 60% chance of rain today, so the old adage about "Red skies in morning, sailors take warning" may be very appropriate today. Have a great Monday and a terrific week! It's a terrfic time to buy or sell in Jacksonville Beach - call me for today's opportunities! 09/27/2010

We had a local Realtor luau last night at an oceanfront condo in Jacksonville Beach.  We enjoyed sticky rice, wonderful al-dente veggies stir fried with beef tips, among other Hawaiian specialties, prepared by a Hawaiian chef. Being oceanfront, especially last night with a strong sea breeze was a nice prelude to Fall, which we are now "technically" in - I say technically because here in Florida, the change from season to season is especially subtle. I decided to try my hand at night shots for the first time, and was attempting to get a fabulous shot of the full moon last night. 09/23/2010

I'm sure most of us have some sort of roadside assistance, especially if you have an older vehicle - let's face it, sometimes things just happen! Yesterday, I was on my way to turn on the water at a short sale in Neptune Beach, FL so the appraiser could re-inspect with utilities on and we can get to closing next Friday. I decided lunch on the run was the way to go, and went to McDonald's for a quick burger; on my way into the parking lot, I inadvertently jumped a curb on the rear side pulling into the lot.  Little did I know at that time, that maneuver gave me a flat! Exiting the parking lot, I heard something and pulled over into a municipal parking lot in Jacksonville Beach, FL to confirm: yes, I now have a flat tire. AAa now allows you to schedule a service call on Tues/Weds/Thurs 10... 09/22/2010

This is NOT today's sunrise, but rather a picture from the other morning, however, one I have not posted yet, so this is the first time it's up. Most mornings, I drive home from the gym along the beach, and stop at various places between Beach and Osceola to take some pictures. May have to vary the route one day and head north into Neptune Beach. Have a great day!   09/22/2010

Another GORGEOUS sunrise this morning with terrific wave action... Barely peeking over the horizon... A little bit more...there were two surfers out in the water as well..   It's amazing how quickly it comes up...may have to do a video....with sound of the waves as well...   And one from a different perspective.   Have a great day! 09/20/2010

On the way home from the gym yesterday morning, I stopped to take my now-normal sunrise pictures.  Now that the weather is cooler, it is so nice in the morning!  Everyone is out walking dogs, or watching the sunrise, or taking their morning strolls on the sand...I love living at the beach! 09/18/2010

Ok, so I know gaggles of geese are not totally unique, however, as I went to my weekly Beaches Realtor meeting yesterday morning, the local gaggle was creating a traffic jam in the parking lot as they meandered around for their morning stroll, and breakfast ,and I just could not resist taking a picture.   09/17/2010

I've been in Texas on a quasi-vacation late last week/early this week, and was so crazy busy, that I decided to handle everything already in the works, rather than process it to a new back up person in my office. It wasn't that big a deal, but I had 4 offers to write and 4-5 new listings as I went out of town, and my plane did not have GoGo Inflight (epic fail!), so I had some time to really consider where my business is coming from these days. In short, here is my breakdown: One floor call for a new listing Three sphere of influence contacts for new listings One past customer as a buyer One referral from a new SOI contact for a listing Ongoing investor who wrote two offers The referral from the new contact in my SOI is the one that amazed me: I know her from a local restaurant I occasi... 09/15/2010

A summer experiment with paid parking at city-owned lots will continue, per a vote by the City Council. $5 per car is the cost at the city lots, which was implemented as an effort to control unruly crowds, loitering, and crime in the downtown Jacksonville Beach business district. Paid parking at the city lots is from 8pm on Friday and Saturday nights only. As a reminder, there are private lots, which you can gamble with, however, the price there is a warning, or worse yet a tow (which is certainly more than $5). If you feel strongly about this and other issues, please make time to attend City Hall meetings and workshops to have your opinion heard. 09/15/2010